Genesis 38:21
New International Version
He asked the men who lived there, “Where is the shrine prostitute who was beside the road at Enaim?” “There hasn’t been any shrine prostitute here,” they said.

New Living Translation
So he asked the men who lived there, “Where can I find the shrine prostitute who was sitting beside the road at the entrance to Enaim?” “We’ve never had a shrine prostitute here,” they replied.

English Standard Version
And he asked the men of the place, “Where is the cult prostitute who was at Enaim at the roadside?” And they said, “No cult prostitute has been here.”

Berean Standard Bible
He asked the men of that place, “Where is the shrine prostitute who was beside the road at Enaim?” “No shrine prostitute has been here,” they answered.

King James Bible
Then he asked the men of that place, saying, Where is the harlot, that was openly by the way side? And they said, There was no harlot in this place.

New King James Version
Then he asked the men of that place, saying, “Where is the harlot who was openly by the roadside?” And they said, “There was no harlot in this place.

New American Standard Bible
He asked the people of her place, saying, “Where is the temple prostitute who was by the road at Enaim?” But they said, “There has been no temple prostitute here.”

NASB 1995
He asked the men of her place, saying, “Where is the temple prostitute who was by the road at Enaim?” But they said, “There has been no temple prostitute here.”

NASB 1977
And he asked the men of her place, saying, “Where is the temple prostitute who was by the road at Enaim?” But they said, “There has been no temple prostitute here.”

Legacy Standard Bible
So he asked the men of her place, saying, “Where is the cult prostitute who was by the road at Enaim?” But they said, “There has been no cult prostitute here.”

Amplified Bible
He asked the men of that place, “Where is the temple prostitute who was by the roadside at Enaim?” They said, “There was no prostitute here.”

Christian Standard Bible
He asked the men of the place, “Where is the cult prostitute who was beside the road at Enaim? ” “There has been no cult prostitute here,” they answered.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He asked the men of the place, “Where is the cult prostitute who was beside the road at Enaim?"” There has been no cult prostitute here,” they answered.

American Standard Version
Then he asked the men of her place, saying, Where is the prostitute, that was at Enaim by the wayside? And they said, There hath been no prostitute here.

Contemporary English Version
Hirah asked the people of Enaim, "Where is the prostitute who sat along the road outside your town?" "There's never been one here," they answered.

English Revised Version
Then he asked the men of her place, saying, Where is the harlot, that was at Enaim by the way side? And they said, There hath been no harlot here.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He asked the men of that area, "Where's that prostitute who was beside the road at Enaim?" "There's no prostitute here," they answered.

Good News Translation
He asked some men at Enaim, "Where is the prostitute who was here by the road?" "There has never been a prostitute here," they answered.

International Standard Version
He asked the men who lived in that area, "Where's that temple prostitute who was sitting alongside the road at Enaim?" But they replied, "There's been no temple prostitute here."

Majority Standard Bible
He asked the men of that place, “Where is the shrine prostitute who was beside the road at Enaim?” “No shrine prostitute has been here,” they answered.

NET Bible
He asked the men who were there, "Where is the cult prostitute who was at Enaim by the road?" But they replied, "There has been no cult prostitute here."

New Heart English Bible
Then he asked the men of the place, saying, "Where is the prostitute that was at Enaim by the road?" They said, "There has been no prostitute here."

Webster's Bible Translation
Then he asked the men of that place, saying, where is the harlot that was openly by the way-side? and they said, There was no harlot in this place.

World English Bible
Then he asked the men of her place, saying, “Where is the prostitute, that was at Enaim by the road?” They said, “There has been no prostitute here.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And he asks the men of her place, saying, “Where [is] the separated one—she in Enayim, by the way?” And they say, “There has not been in this [place] a separated one.”

Young's Literal Translation
And he asketh the men of her place, saying, 'Where is the separated one -- she in Enayim, by the way?' and they say, 'There hath not been in this place a separated one.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will ask the men of the place, saying, Where the harlot, she in the eyes upon the way? and they will say, No harlot was here.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
asked the men of that place : Where is the woman that sat in the cross way? And when they all made answer: There was no harlot in this place,

Catholic Public Domain Version
he questioned the men of that place: “Where is the woman who sat at the crossroad?” And they all responded, “There has been no harlot in this place.”

New American Bible
So he asked the men of that place, “Where is the prostitute, the one by the roadside in Enaim?” But they answered, “No prostitute has been here.”

New Revised Standard Version
He asked the townspeople, “Where is the temple prostitute who was at Enaim by the wayside?” But they said, “No prostitute has been here.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then he asked the men of the place, saying, Where is the harlot who sat at the parting of the road? And they said, There is no harlot here.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he asked the men of the place and said, “Where is the harlot who dwelt at the parting of the roads?”, and they said “There is no harlot here.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Then he asked the men of her place, saying: 'Where is the harlot, that was at Enaim by the wayside?' And they said: 'There hath been no harlot here.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he asked the men of the place, Where is the harlot who was in Aenan by the way-side? and they said, There was no harlot here.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Judah and Tamar
20Now when Judah sent his friend Hirah the Adullamite with the young goat to collect the items he had left with the woman, he could not find her. 21He asked the men of that place, “Where is the shrine prostitute who was beside the road at Enaim?” “No shrine prostitute has been here,” they answered. 22So Hirah returned to Judah and said, “I could not find her, and furthermore, the men of that place said, ‘No shrine prostitute has been here.’ ”…

Cross References
Proverbs 7:10-12
Then a woman came out to meet him, with the attire of a harlot and cunning of heart. / She is loud and defiant; her feet do not remain at home. / Now in the street, now in the squares, she lurks at every corner.

Joshua 2:1
Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim, saying, “Go, inspect the land, especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.

Judges 16:1
One day Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute and went in to spend the night with her.

Hosea 4:14
I will not punish your daughters when they prostitute themselves, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery. For the men themselves go off with prostitutes and offer sacrifices with shrine prostitutes. So a people without understanding will come to ruin.

Leviticus 19:29
You must not defile your daughter by making her a prostitute, or the land will be prostituted and filled with depravity.

Deuteronomy 23:17
No daughter or son of Israel is to be a shrine prostitute.

Ezekiel 16:25
At the head of every street you built your lofty shrines and degraded your beauty. With increasing promiscuity, you spread your legs to all who passed by.

Isaiah 23:16
“Take up your harp, stroll through the city, O forgotten harlot. Make sweet melody, sing many a song, so you will be remembered.”

Jeremiah 3:2
“Lift up your eyes to the barren heights and see. Is there any place where you have not been violated? You sat beside the highways waiting for your lovers, like a nomad in the desert. You have defiled the land with your prostitution and wickedness.

Revelation 17:1-5
Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. / The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and those who dwell on the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her immorality.” / And the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, where I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. ...

Matthew 21:31-32
Which of the two did the will of his father?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. / For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

Luke 15:30
But when this son of yours returns from squandering your wealth with prostitutes, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

1 Corinthians 6:15-16
Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! / Or don’t you know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”

Hebrews 11:31
By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies in peace, did not perish with those who were disobedient.

James 2:25
In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute justified by her actions when she welcomed the spies and sent them off on another route?


Treasury of Scripture

Then he asked the men of that place, saying, Where is the harlot, that was openly by the way side? And they said, There was no harlot in this place.

openly by the way side.

Jeremiah 38:14
Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took Jeremiah the prophet unto him into the third entry that is in the house of the LORD: and the king said unto Jeremiah, I will ask thee a thing; hide nothing from me.

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Enaim Harlot Hasn't Loose Openly Prostitute Questions Road Separated Shrine Side Temple Way Wayside Way-Side
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Enaim Harlot Hasn't Loose Openly Prostitute Questions Road Separated Shrine Side Temple Way Wayside Way-Side
Genesis 38
1. Judah begets Er, Onan, and Shelah.
6. Er's marriage with Tamar, and death.
8. The trespass of Onan.
11. Tamar is reserved for Shelah.
12. Judah's wife dies.
13. Tamar deceives Judah.
27. She bears twins, Pharez and Zarah.














He asked the men of that place
This phrase indicates an inquiry made by Judah's friend, Hirah the Adullamite, as he seeks to fulfill Judah's promise to Tamar. The act of asking the local men suggests a public and open search, reflecting the cultural norms of the time where community interactions were direct and communal. The Hebrew root for "asked" (שָׁאַל, sha'al) implies a seeking or inquiring, often used in contexts of seeking guidance or information, highlighting the earnestness of the search.

Where is the shrine prostitute
The term "shrine prostitute" (קְדֵשָׁה, qedeshah) refers to a woman who engaged in ritualistic sexual acts as part of pagan worship practices. This reflects the syncretism and moral challenges faced by the Israelites, as they were surrounded by Canaanite religious practices. The use of this term underscores the cultural and religious tensions present in the narrative, as well as the moral decline that Judah experiences.

who was beside the road at Enaim
"Enaim" is a location mentioned in the narrative, and its name means "eyes" or "springs" in Hebrew, possibly indicating a place of visibility or a crossroads. The mention of the road signifies a public and accessible location, emphasizing the openness of Tamar's actions and the potential for public scandal. This setting serves as a backdrop for the unfolding drama, highlighting the themes of visibility and hidden intentions.

No shrine prostitute has been here
The response from the local men indicates a denial of the presence of such a woman, suggesting either ignorance or a lack of recognition of Tamar's disguise. This statement reflects the cultural and societal norms of the time, where such practices might have been known but not openly acknowledged. The denial also sets the stage for the revelation of Tamar's true identity and the subsequent moral and familial implications for Judah.

they replied
The phrase "they replied" indicates a collective response from the men of the place, emphasizing the communal nature of the society. The Hebrew root for "replied" (עָנָה, anah) often conveys an answer or response, sometimes with a connotation of testimony or witness. This collective reply serves as a narrative device to highlight the contrast between public perception and private reality, a recurring theme in the account of Judah and Tamar.

(21) Where is the harlot . . .?--Heb.,Whercisthe kedeshah (see Genesis 38:15) that was at Enajim by the wayside? "Enajim (the two founts) by-the-wayside," seems to have been the full name of the village. (See Genesis 38:14.)

Verse 21. - Then he asked the men of that place, saying, Where is the harlot, - literally, the consecrated, the prostitute being regarded as "one devoted to the worship of Astarte, a goddess of the Canaanites, the deification of the generative and productive principle of nature," corresponding to the Babylonian Ashtarte, whose worship was of a grossly libidinous character (Herod., 1:199). Cf. Deuteronomy 23:19; Numbers 25:1; Hosea 4:14; and vide Keil on REFERENCE_WORK:Keil & DelitzschDeuteronomy 23:19 that was openly by the way side? - or, that was in Enajim on the way, ut supra, ver. 14). And they said, There was no harlot (or kedeshah) in this place.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
He asked
וַיִּשְׁאַ֞ל (way·yiš·’al)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7592: To inquire, to request, to demand

the men
אַנְשֵׁ֤י (’an·šê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 582: Man, mankind

of that place,
מְקֹמָהּ֙ (mə·qō·māh)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 4725: A standing, a spot, a condition

“Where
אַיֵּ֧ה (’ay·yêh)
Interrogative
Strong's 346: Where?

is the temple prostitute
הַקְּדֵשָׁ֛ה (haq·qə·ḏê·šāh)
Article | Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 6948: A female devotee

who
הִ֥וא (hî)
Pronoun - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

was beside
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the road
הַדָּ֑רֶךְ (had·dā·reḵ)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

at Enaim?”
בָעֵינַ֖יִם (ḇā·‘ê·na·yim)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 5879: Enaim -- 'two springs', a place in Israel

“No
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

temple prostitute
קְדֵשָֽׁה׃ (qə·ḏê·šāh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 6948: A female devotee

has been
הָיְתָ֥ה (hā·yə·ṯāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

here,”
בָזֶ֖ה (ḇā·zeh)
Preposition-b | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

they answered.
לֵאמֹ֔ר (lê·mōr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 559: To utter, say


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OT Law: Genesis 38:21 Then he asked the men of her (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 38:20
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